- 5.
I was getting butterflies all over again. Should
<
I change into something cuter?
“Honey, I’m here!”
Luke’s voice came from behind me. He looked
great in his suit, standing there and drawing
attention.
I took a deep breath and went to take his
arm, my heart pounding.
Dad loved him. Like, really loved him.
“Luke, son, I’m so glad Ashley’s got you.
When are you two planning to tie the knot?”
I sat there, mortified, trying not to look at
Luke.
“Sir, whenever Ashley says the word, I’m
L
ready. And I promise, I’ll give her the wedding
of her dreams!”
Dad nodded, practically shoving us out the door. “You young folks go have some fun.
Don’t waste your time with an old man like
me.”
Luke took me to this fancy restaurant, the
kind where you barely see any other people.
“Um… isn’t this a bit…” I started.
I knew he didn’t have much money. If I offered
to pay, would that make him feel
emasculated?
Luke squeezed my hand, smiling. “Don’t
worry, babe. Remember that ‘loan‘ you gave
me?”
<
I breathed a sigh of relief and let him lead me
- in.
The restaurant had a great vibe, soft music
and flowers.
Then Luke pulled out a ring, got down on one
knee, and asked, “Ashley, will you be my
girlfriend?”
I was stunned, staring at him.
I finally managed to nod. Luke slipped the
ring on my finger and gave me a bouquet of
roses.
I sat next to him, completely dazed.
He was wearing a matching ring. My heart
blushing
sped up, and I looked away, blushing.
He was pretty good at the whole romance
thing. My money was well spent.
Luke had such a handsome profile, with his
strong nose and those killer bedroom eyes. I
couldn’t stop staring.
“Like what you see? You can look all you
want.”
He squeezed my hand under the table,
smiling.
This was the first time I’d seen him up close.
He knew he was good looking.
And it was kind of hot.
L
I swallowed hard. Luke’s face went red, his
ears turning the color of fire.
I was paying him, so a kiss wouldn’t be out of
line, right?
He was right there. I couldn’t help myself.
Luke stiffened, then wrapped his arms around
me, deepening the kiss.
I pulled back, a little freaked out by how
intense it was.
“Ashley… you’re paying me. Isn’t it bad form
to leave me at my place?”
I couldn’t resist his charm. I told myself he
must be using some kind of magic.
<
“Honey, I have nowhere to go. You don’t want
me getting hassled, do you…?”
He rested his head on my shoulder, begging.
I couldn’t handle it.
“Okay, okay, pack your stuff. I’ll pick you up
tomorrow.”
Luke grinned and kissed me a bunch more
times before letting me go.
Sarah had pretty much moved into our house,
always flaunting in front of me. I tried to
ignore it.
I thought about bringing Luke home
L
tomorrow, and I started to panic.
I was mindlessly sitting on the couch when
Sarah walked past.
I yelped as scalding coffee splashed all over
my legs.
I looked up and saw Sarah holding a broken
coffee mug. Her hand was bleeding.
“Ouch! Ashley, why?”
Sarah yelled, sounding confused. Dean saw
what happened and scooped Sarah up.
He started bandaging her hand.
He didn’t even notice that my legs were bright
red from the burn.
<
“Dean, I was just bringing Ashley some
coffee, but she stuck her leg out and tripped
me…”
“Ashley, why are you doing this? You don’t
want me here? You can just tell me.”
She started fake crying.
“I didn’t! I didn’t trip her!”
But there were no cameras in the living room.
Dean didn’t believe me.
“Ashley! She’s going to be your sister–in-
law!”
He glared at me, his eyes blazing.
“You think you can make me like you with
these tricks? In your dreams!”
“I only love Sarah.”
He held Sarah tightly. “I’m taking you to the
- ER. You’re safe with me.”
Sarah stared at me, raising an eyebrow.
They came back late, but Dean left again for
work.
Sarah smirked. “Ashley, Dean will always care
about me.”
“It must hurt to get burned.”
“I won’t want to live here forever after Dean
buys me a new house.”
L
I stared back. “Sarah, I don’t want Dean. Stop
trying to get to me.”
I closed the door.
Dean had secretly been paying for Sarah’s
expenses before the wedding.
I thought about those things and laughed to
myself.
A loud knock woke me up early.
Dean leaned against the doorframe. “It’s
Sarah’s birthday. Why aren’t you out of bed?”
I rubbed my eyes. “I have plans today.”
He slapped my face and stared at his hand.
“Ashley, I didn’t mean to! I…”
I held my stinging cheek. “I have plans, Dean.”
He frowned, pulling his hand back. “You can’t
be selfish. People will think it’s weird if you
don’t show up.”
I couldn’t believe Dean was being so
ridiculous.
Sarah came out, holding a necklace. “Dean, is
it pretty?”
I stared at the necklace, remembering what it
was.
It was the necklace Dean bought for five
million dollars and gave it to me when I turned
- 18.
FE
Before I could say anything, Dean clipped it
around Sarah’s neck. “This necklace looks
great on you.”
He turned to me, frowning. “I was always
saving it for Sarah. It was you because she
wasn’t around.”
